Oesophageal Cancer

The oesophagus is part of the digestive system. The oesophagus is the long tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The top part of the oesophagus lies behind the windpipe (trachea). The bottom part runs down through the chest between the spine and the heart.

Cancer of the oesophagus is an uncommon but serious type of cancer that affects the oesophagus (gullet).

Depending on the extent of the cancer at diagnosis, treatment may be surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or all three types. Sometimes chemotherapy is given before surgery to reduce the size of the tumour.